Colonial Conference Reports.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any précis of the proceedings of the Imperial Conference is being published in the Colonies; and, if so, whether it is being published officially.

The daily précis issued by the Colonial Office is communicated to the Colonial Press Agencies with others for transmission to the Colonies. I am not aware that any other précisis being published there.

SIR GILBERT PARKER

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the Government has taken into consideration whether it would not be wise for the Conference to employ its own officials for making the précis rather than employ the officials of the Colonial Office, over whom they have no control?

If that question suggests that the officials of the Colonial Office who have been making the précis have not endeavoured to make a fair one, or that, having that intention, they have not been able to carry their intention out, I think the suggestion ought not to be made.

That is a Question which I cannot refer to conveniently by Question and Answer across the floor of the House. No doubt at a later date, when the organisation of the secretariat
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is completed, the House will desire some further statement.

As will be seen by reference to the précis of 10th May, the Conference has decided to "publish its proceedings, subject to any necessary revision or omissions." It is expected that publication will take place at an early date.

I will do my best to expedite the publication of these Papers. I should not think the delay would be very long, but, of course, it is necessary for the statements of each member of the Conference to be corrected. The preference portions of the discussion will certainly be published.